Many religious followers lose their faith at some point in their lives. But what if that faith is based on something cult-like, something that even resembles Scientology?
Hulu explores that question in its new original series, The Path, which stars Aaron Paul, Hugh Dancy and Michelle Monaghan. In the series Paul portrays a man struggling with his beliefs in a cult-like religious group that he belongs to.
The series, which premieres on Hulu on March 30, has an intriguing premise, but other than that, what else do we know about it?
The Cult
In The Path, the cult in question is The Meyerist Movement, a fictional religious organization whose followers believe in the teachings of a former Army psychiatrist, Stephen Meyer. The belief system of The Meyerist Movement mostly resembles Scientology, but also takes cues from a variety of other faiths, such as Catholicism and Buddhism. The Meyerist Movement has a "ladder toward the light," which leads to immortality. Followers must pursue specific goals to achieve each rung on the ladder as part of their growth within the sect.
"It's so fun to explore human beings in this kind of setting, because we all have some kind of emotional hole, and it's interesting the people who choose to fill it in this way," series creator Jessica Goldberg said to USA Today. "That always resonated with me: these movements (that) wanted to throw away material things and help people. It's very hard to keep a movement going without one person's ambition getting in the way of the dream."
The Movement Has A Dark Side
As with most cults, The Meyerist Movement has a lot of secrets and a darker side. Although Hulu hasn't released many details on what goes on behind the scenes of the cult, trailers show hands soaked in blood and hint that those who threaten to leave the movement or disagree with its teachings tend to have bad things happen to them and their families.
"I felt there was this real potential to explore the darker side of religion or what people do in the name of faith," said Monaghan. "We see this idealistic movement where lost souls are coming in, and you really see how they turn people's lives around. You understand how people might become brainwashed or indebted to this faith."
Even the FBI has suspicions about The Meyerist Movement and sends an undercover agent into its midst to find out what's going on. But the agent finds himself sucked in by the movement's message, particularly in how it relates to his potentially fatally ill infant.
Characters
The Path has three main characters. Paul portrays Eddie, who is relatively new to The Meyerist Movement, but has become an integral part of the organization. However, Eddie has started questioning the group's beliefs, especially after he goes to a retreat that involves taking hallucinogens to achieve the next rung on the ladder. The experience leaves him feeling broken, resulting in doubt.
On the other side of the coin is Eddie's wife, Sarah (Monaghan), who grew up with The Meyerist Movement, and believes strongly in the faith. Obviously, this puts she and Eddie at odds because anyone who leaves the movement is cut off from everyone else involved with it, which includes family and friends.
Finally, there's Cal, the leader of The Meyerist Movement. He's charismatic, ambitious and power-hungry, but also holds a lot of secrets about the Movement's potentially corrupt practices. But Cal doesn't see himself as a bad guy.
"From the outside, he's quite a dark character, but I prefer to think of him as someone who's just doing what he has to," Dancy said.
It's Ultimately A Series About Losing Faith
Regardless of whether The Meyerist Movement qualifies as a cult or not, the show is not really about religion itself, but about something everyone can relate to: what happens when they lose faith in things once important to them. The Path looks at a very human issue and how a man deals with that, especially since his loss of faith could mean him losing everything he holds dear.
When writing The Path, Goldberg took a cue from her own personal life: after losing her father and a divorce, she found herself struggling with the doubts that inevitably come after such losses.
"Now, those who know me ask if writing a religion has helped me deal with my own spiritual crisis," Goldberg wrote for The Hollywood Reporter. "That question is harder to answer. But the combination of time, working, friends and family has certainly healed wounds, and restored my faith in the gift of life."
Photos: Hulu
